News and policy articles concerning the reunification of North and South Korea http://www.kpolicy.org http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:54:03 -0800 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:53:20 -0800 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com When it comes to China policy, is the Obama administration leaping from the frying pan directly into the fire? In an attempt to turn the page on two disastrous wars in the Greater Middle East, it may have just launched a new Cold War in Asia -- once again, viewing oil as the key to global supremacy. http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/120127michaelklareplayingwithfire.html EAB80F92-E411-452B-96DC-CA88DC012993 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:53:20 -0800 As 2011 came to a close, the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il took the world by surprise (including the CIA which, like the rest of us, only learned of his passing 48 hours later). Given the dearth of understanding about North Korea in the West, the media could only speculate about the future of the new regime in Pyongyang. The usual pundits also took the opportunity to renew their calls for regime change. After all, 2011 was the year when the masses rose up to overthrow repressive regimes; could the same fate be in store for North Korea? http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/120118christineahnakoreanspring.html C723E6FF-9A6C-463F-B6A5-34419691E252 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:33:39 -0800 With the passing of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, KPI Executive Director Christine Ahn sat down for a phone interview with Han S. Park. Professor Park is Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues (GLOBIS) at the University of Georgia. Born in China (Manchuria) to immigrant Korean parents, Dr. Park received his education in China, Korea, and the United States, with advanced degrees in Political Science from Seoul National University (B.A.), the American University (M.A.) and the University of Minnesota (Ph.D.). http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/111228christineahnhanspark.html 5AED9DBF-896C-4FD3-A97F-3B7A76EE32E2 Sat, 7 Jan 2012 09:58:12 -0800 In 2006, I traveled to North Korea. The "other half" of my ethnic heritage had been a long held fascination. The American media had presented images of laughable authoritarian figures, strange rituals, and helpless suffering. My parents had instilled a fear of "the other" that they were taught as children in South Korea. So I went to find the truth. http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/111231rickychoifindingtruthinnk.html ECD531EA-810F-497D-AF20-F93E860BD901 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:45:21 -0800 The incomplete and distorted reporting about North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is not fair to him, the people of North and South Korea who long for peace and reconciliation, or to the American people. http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/111231dorothyogleoreaatcrossroads.html 4C910A50-255A-4F30-87AB-B15AB48709F1 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:44:26 -0800 On Saturday, December 17, 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, 69 years old, passed away while traveling on a train to a field visit. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea's official international news organ, Kim suffered a fatal heart attack. A period of national mourning has been declared, and the official funeral is set for December 28. http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/111219kpideathofkimjongil.html 78665E19-B426-4D6F-BE0F-E28D116D4490 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:58:41 -0800 The U.S. Congress last week gave final approval to a South Korean-U.S. trade agreement (KORUS) despite strong opposition from the labor movement and a handful of organizations on the political left. The pact was approved along with treaties with Panama and Columbia — but those agreements pale against KORUS, which is the largest trade deal passed since NAFTA was signed by President Clinton in 1994. It so enthralled South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a former top executive with Hyundai and the country's most conservative leader in a decade, that he proclaimed the beginning of a new "economic alliance" during his visit to Washington. An excited President Obama told Korean reporters it was a "win accord" that will create jobs, expand opportunity "and give benefits to both countries." Yadda yadda yadda - we've heard it all before. http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/111022timshorrockftahiddenhistory.html 328103D5-0A21-4A10-B7EC-8067834CC3C4 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:11:48 -0700 At 4 am on September 24, an intoxicated U.S. soldier based at Camp Casey in South Korea broke into the dorm of a high school student, threatened her with a weapon and repeatedly sexually assaulted her. Due to the extraterritoriality of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the South Korean and U.S. governments, Seoul must issue an arrest warrant to the U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK) to transfer the soldier to face Korea's criminal system. http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/111021christineahnhyunleebasesandbudgets.html 65A80B9E-3524-4635-BB40-667D5E2AAC1D Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:10:43 -0700 For the entire post WWII period the political security and economic development of South Korea has been guaranteed by the United States. In turn South Korea has served as a bulwark against communist expansion in Asia — as a security buffer for Japan, in particular. But today, this scenario is appearing more and more anachronistic, so rapidly is change coming to Northeast Asia. To be sure, the U.S. will maintain a strong presence in Northeast Asia for years to come, but it will be one among others vying for influence on the Korean peninsula, as Seoul and Pyongyang leverage their geopolitical and other economic assets to reap the benefits of what is shaping up to be a new regional economy encompassing China, Russia, Japan and both Koreas. http://www.kpolicy.org/documents/interviews-opeds/111012paulliemtimetoembracechange.html ABA0A680-4CF8-438A-B89B-B8D256A652F4 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:36:45 -0700